Improvement in lubricators



L. J. CRBGELIUS.

Lubriolator.

Patented July 1,1879.

N. PETERS, PHoTo-LxTHOGRAPrgER, vlAsHlgaeroN. D C

UNITED *STATES PATENT OFFICE.

LOUIS J. OREOELIUS, OFST. LOUIS, MISSOURI, ASSIGNOR OF ONE-HALF HIS RIGHT rIO GEORGE H. SHIELDS, OF SAME PLACE.

IMPROVEMENT IN LUBRICATORS.

Specification forming part of Letters Patent No. 216,943, dated July 1, 1879; application filed August 19, 1878.

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, LoUIs J. GREoELIUs, of the city of St. Louis, of the State of Missouri,

have invented a new and useful Improvement in Automatic Lubricators for Oilin g Journals in Locomotive, Oar, and other Axles, and for bearings in machineryshafting, which improvement is fully set forth in the following tion, furnishing just enough oil to lubricate the same, and no more, to save oil, and to do away with heating for want of lubrication.

In all the figures the different letters represent the same thing.

A A is an air-tight reservoir for holding the oil; B B, an air-tube regulating the llow of the oil to the bearing; D, the set-nut to hold tube at required height b, packin g-ringaround set-nut g, regulating-screw on the upper end of regulating air-tube 5 C, journal-box; E, journal; F, bearing; G, pipe connecting reservoir with journal-box; I, stop-cock in connecting-pipe, to stop the low while lling the reservoir; p p, oilports; a a, arrows showingA the direction 'of atmospheric pressure on the lubricant, and a' a arrows indicating theqdirection of the low of oil when the device is working; H, a cup in the bottom of the reservoir.

T he device consists4 of an airtight reservoir of any required size, with a hole at the top thereof, through which runs a regulating airtube, having on the upper 'end thereof a long screw or thread, cutso that by turning the same the tube can be raised or lowered to any height required to furnish oil to bearing, and also a set-nut to hold it in place when adj usted, making an air-tight joint by means .of the packing; said reservoir having a depression at the bottom into which the lower end of the air-tube extends, and so constructed as to prevent the lower end of the air-tube from being uncovered by the oil in jostling, shaking,`or tilting the reservoir in movable machinery; said reservoir also having a port or ports, with a pipe-connection, through which the lubricatin g-liuid is transmitted to the journal box or bearing, which said transmitting-tube is provided with a stop-cock, by which the ilow of the lubricating-duid from .the reservoir to the journal-box can be stopped when lling the reservoir, or when not in use.

It is evident that this transmitting-tube can be of any length or material, and that there can be more than one transmitting-tube from the reservoir to different bearings.

The operation of the device is as follows: First, close the stop-cock I; then unscrew and take out the regulating air-tube B B, fill the reservoir A A with oil or other lubricating- Huid; then screw in the regulating air-tube B B until the lower side of said tube is on the same level with the lower side of journal or shafting E, as shown in Fig. 2; then open the stop-cock I, and the lubricating-fluid will liow through the ports p p in the direction shown j by the arrows a a until it reaches in the journal-box C the level of the lower end of the tube B B and establishes a fluid'level in the tube and journal-box, and the oil will be furnished to the bearing F as the journal or shafting revolves. As the lubricating-fluid is used up the equilibrium of the fluid-level `is destroyed. Immediately the greaterweightof the higher column of fluid in the regulating-tube forces the lubricating-fluid through the ports p p in the direction of the arrows a a until it reaches the luid-level in the journal-box, and the air following the falling fluid escapes below the lower end of the tube and rises in bubbles to top of reservoir till the equilibrium is restored, thus continuously and automatically furnishing the lubricating-duid to the journal or bearing as fast as the same is used, so long as any oil remains in the reservoir.

It is evident that, instead of allowing the lubricating-fluid to touch the lower side of the journal E, the journal-box can be filled with wool, flax, hemp, sponge, rags, or other matebe supplied in the journal boxes or bearings.

Thus the machine regulates the i'low ofthe iuid automatically to any height.

It is evident that the regulating air-tube may be raised or lowered by any means; but a screw, as proposed, is preferable. The air- .tube may also be made immovable; but in that ease the quantity of fluid in the journalbox could not be increased.

This method of oiling bearings is applicable' not only to stationary machinery wherever lubricating-fluid is needed, but also to axles of movable machinery, such aslocomotives, cars, &c. movable machinery, in order to avoid the jostling and shaking thereof when the fluid in the reservoir is low, causing the lower end of the air-tube to become uncovered by the fluid, and thus destroying the equilibrium, a cup4 can be formed at the bottom of the reservoir, as shown in Fig. 3, into which the regulating` air-tube extends, and this being always filled with iuid, the exposure of the lower end of the tube is avoided.

In its use on locomotives, cars, and other Having thus described my invention, what I claim as new, and desire to secure by Letters Patent, is-

1. The air-tight reservoir A A, having a port, p, through which the lubricating-Huid ilows to the journal or bearing, in combination with a regulating air-tube, B B, substantially asdescribed, and for the purposes mentioned.

2. An air-tight reservoir, A A, having an oilport, p, through which the lubricating-fluid flows tothe journal or bearing, in combination with an adjustable regulating air-tube, B B, which can be lowered or raised at pleasure, substantially as described, and for the purposes mentioned. l

3. An air-tight reservoir, A'A, having a port,

p, in combination with the air-tube B B, having a regulating screw or thread, g, cut on the upper end thereof, and a set-nut, D, with the packing b, and the transmitting-tube G, having a stop-cock, I, substantially as described, and for the purposes mentioned. 4. An air-tight reservoir, A A, with a cup, H, in the bottom thereof, having a port, p, in combination with a regulating air-tube, B B, extending into said' cup, substantially as described, for the purposes mentioned.

L. J. ORECELIUS.

Witnesses JOHN BENNETT, GEO. H. SHrELDs. 

